MADRID

At least 51 irregular migrants are missing after their boat sank off the Atlantic coast of West Africa while heading for the Canary Islands, Spanish media reported on Monday.

The boat sank about 110 kilometers (59.4 nautical miles) from the island of El Hierro, according to Spain's official news agency EFE, which reported that the Spanish Coast Guard had rescued nine irregular migrants clinging to part of the wreck, while the rest of its passengers remain missing.

The survivors, all men, said they had been awaiting help in the water for two days since the boat sank and that they had originally set out with a total of 60 people, according to EFE.

The migrants had reportedly embarked from the M'Bour coast of Senegal nine days ago.

It has been reported that over the last 48 hours, a total of 220 irregular migrants had arrived in the Spanish archipelago in four separate groups.

The sinking boat was reported by a passing oil tanker en route from Brazil to the Spanish port of Cartagena.

*Writing by Muhammed Yasin Gungor in Istanbul